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Friday, 1 August 2014

social media cleanse

I’ve had to have a little sit down with myself over the past week or so. I was continuing to do something that just isn’t ok and it actually isn’t healthy, so enough is enough – I’ve put an end to it. I may be judged for this post, or I may make you think about your activity on social media, either way I know for a fact I’m not the only one who has done it.

This week, I feel like I’ve cleansed my brain...ooh how mystical and hippie like... but no seriously, I have decided that I no longer want to be someone who follows people on social media, purely to pick apart their tweets or Instagram posts with a friend. Disclaimer – I have never ever EVER sent a message of any kind to anyone on social media of nastiness or bitchiness; e.v.e.r. I don’t see why people do it and I definitely don’t see who it benefits – just sad sad people. No, I’m not talking about the infamous internet trolls, they aren’t worth anyone’s time, I’m talking about following someone, who you don’t particularly like, for no reason at all but the whole ‘did you see what Fred* posted a few hours ago, why would he even say that?!’ debacle.

Negativity can eat you alive; it seeps into every pore and becomes part of your everyday life. It starts with complaining every so often, and then gradually, you see yourself slipping into a dark hole of moaning and complaining, bitching and sniping – it changes who you are as a person. It changes your outlook on life and your motivation for the day and I have come to the conclusion that I am not willing to carry on like that any longer. I am not willing to waste my time, talking about people that simply are not worth it. The negativity, along with the people, has to go.

We waste enough hours of our lives on the internet – we miss so much of what life has to offer – so why make that even worse by not even liking the people we waste our time on?! I think that actually, it stems from high school, which is by far the most toxic environment that a girl can find themselves in. I look on Facebook now, at the younger people who are finding their way through their teens, making very petty arguments very very public and it’s some of the bitchiest things I’ve ever seen! Why do we insist on tearing each other down when we should be building each other up? Gals, there are enough people in this world who are ready and waiting to rip your confidence, personality and looks to shreds – let’s not make it ok for them to do it by participating in it ourselves…

We can’t all like each other – and I do honestly believe that, I cannot and do not accept that there are people out there who like everyone – it’s not normal but that’s ok. It’s ok because how boring would it be if we were all likeable and the same; being different is what makes the world such a unique place. It’s ok because we don’t need to interact and surround ourselves around those people. Instead of throwing punches (hypothetically, let’s keep it classy), we can ignore it and surround ourselves(on social media and in real life) with the people that we love, that interest us, that inspire us – that make us strive for more. Whilst I’m giggling at a person’s from high schools tweets, or I’m discussing it with my friends, I’m not doing anything but wasting my own time – and it most certainly doesn’t make me a better person.

So on a lazy Sunday morning, when even making a cup of tea is up there with climbing Mount Everest, in regards to effort levels, I began the cleanse. Along with those that I’d followed for the simple reason that they’d followed me (soo 2012..) I courageously clicked that unfollow button on those people that I’d pathetically followed for the occasional cheap thrill of an outrageously arrogant tweet that I'd find vaguely humorous and bing! Genuinely, I felt so much better! All those ill feelings that I'd harboured subconsciously, just disappeared.

I've found a range of writers and journalists, bloggers and hell, actually interesting people, that's tweets genuinely interest me, that's writing I'm in awe of. Come on, let's stop the 'dislike following(it's not hate following, I don't care about them enough), let the high school bitchiness go and have a social media cleanse. Hey, if you're feeling really crazy, you could even read a book...